Can telemedicine reach rural, older veterans on the edge of or caught in the digital divide? – Unique considerations for two distinct populations

Kathryn Nearing, Eileen Dryden, Camilla B. Pimentel, Laura Kernan, Stephanie Hartz, Lynette Kelley, Hillary D. Lum, William W. Hung, Meaghan A. Kennedy, Lauren R. Moo · 2024 · Cogent Gerontology

Summary. A national telemedicine program serving rural older veterans through VA clinics identified two distinct populations with different barriers to digital healthcare. Some veterans on the edge of the digital divide faced access risks from declining health or economic status. Others were completely caught in the divide—lacking reliable internet, devices, or skills—including isolated veterans with trauma histories and institutional distrust. The study reveals that structural supports must address these specific contextual factors to expand telemedicine reach.

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Nearing, K., Dryden, E., Pimentel, C. B., Kernan, L., Hartz, S., Kelley, L., Lum, H. D., Hung, W. W., Kennedy, M. A., & Moo, L. R.. (2024). Can telemedicine reach rural, older veterans on the edge of or caught in the digital divide? – Unique considerations for two distinct populations. Cogent Gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1080/28324897.2024.2336899

@article{nearing-2024-can-telemedicine-reach-rural-older,
  title   = {Can telemedicine reach rural, older veterans on the edge of or caught in the digital divide? – Unique considerations for two distinct populations},
  author  = {Kathryn Nearing and Eileen Dryden and Camilla B. Pimentel and Laura Kernan and Stephanie Hartz and Lynette Kelley and Hillary D. Lum and William W. Hung and Meaghan A. Kennedy and Lauren R. Moo},
  journal = {Cogent Gerontology},
  year    = {2024},
  doi     = {10.1080/28324897.2024.2336899},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1080/28324897.2024.2336899}
}

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TI  - Can telemedicine reach rural, older veterans on the edge of or caught in the digital divide? – Unique considerations for two distinct populations
AU  - Kathryn Nearing
AU  - Eileen Dryden
AU  - Camilla B. Pimentel
AU  - Laura Kernan
AU  - Stephanie Hartz
AU  - Lynette Kelley
AU  - Hillary D. Lum
AU  - William W. Hung
AU  - Meaghan A. Kennedy
AU  - Lauren R. Moo
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Details

DOI: 10.1080/28324897.2024.2336899
Countries: United States
Regions: North America
Categories: rural-healthcare, broadband-and-digital
Added: 2026-04-28